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Trip from Glendale, AZ to Superior, AZ

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 6, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 34m

Distance

75.1 mi

121 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$15

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 27m ★
6 AM
1h 34m
8 AM
1h 49m
10 AM
1h 39m
12 PM
1h 38m
3 PM
1h 40m
5 PM
1h 48m
8 PM
1h 30m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time
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city in Maricopa County, Arizona, United States

Glendale, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

town in Pinal County, Arizona, United States

Superior, AZ

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Glendale, AZ to Superior, AZ covers 75.1 miles and takes about 1h 34m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 60, Phoenix–Globe Highway, Maricopa Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed highway & surface. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 28.4 miles on US 60. At current regular gas prices, budget about $14.56 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

37.5 miles from Glendale, AZ

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 48m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 60 28.4 mi 33m
Phoenix–Globe Highway 27.3 mi 33m
Maricopa Freeway 8.8 mi 10m
Grand Avenue 5.9 mi 10m
Black Canyon Freeway 3.5 mi 4m
North Black Canyon Highway 0.3 mi <1m
South Magma Avenue 0.2 mi <1m
West Thomas Road 0.2 mi <1m
Longest stretch: US 60 — 28.4 mi, about 33m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Glendale, AZ and Superior, AZ.

1

Start on US 60

0.3 mi · 36 sec · Grand Avenue
2

Continue on US 60

5.5 mi · 9 min · Grand Avenue
Use the left lane.
3

Take the exit onto US 60

0.5 mi · 1 min · US 60
Toward 27th Avenue
4

Turn left onto US 60

0.2 mi · 26 sec · West Thomas Road
Use the left / slight left lanes.
5

Turn right onto US 60

0.3 mi · 28 sec · North Black Canyon Highway
6

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 24 sec
Toward I 17 South
7

Merge onto I 17; US 60

3.5 mi · 4 min · Black Canyon Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Continue on I 17; US 60

8.8 mi · 10 min · Maricopa Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit onto US 60

28 mi · 32 min · US 60
Exit 154 Toward US 60 East: Mesa, Globe Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Continue on US 60; US 80 Hist

27 mi · 33 min · Phoenix–Globe Highway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 34 sec
Toward Kearny, Winkelman
12

Turn left onto AZ 177

0.2 mi · 32 sec · South Magma Avenue
13

Arrive at destination

North Magma Avenue

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 37.5 miles from Glendale, AZ, or about 48m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28.4 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 17 miles or 24m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 37.5 miles or 48m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 19m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Superior, AZ than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Glendale, AZ so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Glendale, AZ

This is one driving day of about 75.1 miles and 1h 34m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Glendale, AZ.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on US 60 for about 28.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Pinal and Maricopa counties in Arizona, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Apache Junction, AZ

38 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Tempe Junction, AZ

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Apache Junction, AZ

Meal break

The midpoint is around 37.5 miles from Glendale, AZ, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 9

5 decision points cluster between mile 6.4 and 19.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
6.4 mi into trip | ~11m in | US 60 / West Thomas Road

Turn left onto US 60 / West Thomas Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left / slight left lanes.
5
6.6 mi into trip | ~12m in | US 60 / North Black Canyon Highway

Turn right onto US 60 / North Black Canyon Highway

Navigation decision point

5
6.9 mi into trip | ~12m in

Take the exit toward I 17 South

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward I 17 South
5
7 mi into trip | ~12m in | I 17; US 60 / Black Canyon Freeway

Merge onto I 17; US 60 / Black Canyon Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
19.4 mi into trip | ~27m in | US 60

Take the exit onto US 60 toward US 60 East: Mesa, Globe

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 154 Toward US 60 East: Mesa, Globe

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$14.56 one way

$29.11 round trip

$4.92/gal 25.4 MPG avg 26 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $5.20 $15.38 $30.76
premium $5.44 $16.08 $32.15
diesel $5.60 $16.55 $33.11

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$15

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$40–$65

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 26.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 22.5 0 $7.89 $3.60
Efficient EV 18.8 0 $6.57 $3.00
EV Truck/SUV 30 0 $10.51 $4.81

Gas CO2

26 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (65% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Aug 29, 2026

Origin

Glendale, AZ

Evening in Glendale on Saturday

Local time

5:41 PM

MST

Current temp

90°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

SE 5 mph 18% chance Live forecast

Extreme Heat Warning

Extreme Heat Warning issued August 28 at 2:00PM MST until August 29 at 8:00PM MST by NWS Tucson AZ

Extreme Heat Warning

Extreme Heat Warning issued August 28 at 2:00PM MST until August 29 at 8:00PM MST by NWS Tucson AZ

Destination

Superior, AZ

Evening in Superior on Saturday

Local time

5:41 PM

MST

Current temp

80°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

NE 5 mph 15% chance Live forecast

Extreme Heat Warning

Extreme Heat Warning issued August 28 at 2:00PM MST until August 29 at 8:00PM MST by NWS Tucson AZ

Extreme Heat Warning

Extreme Heat Warning issued August 28 at 2:00PM MST until August 29 at 8:00PM MST by NWS Tucson AZ

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

10 degrees cooler at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 34m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

75.1 mi in 1h 34m — 54% highway, the rest on surface roads. Biggest road: US 60.

54% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.4 mi on US 60.

How Hard Is This Drive?

6/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 6.4 miles in near US 60 / West Thomas Road.

Driving Effort 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 75.1 miles you will encounter 9 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 6.4 miles (US 60 / West Thomas Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.6 miles (US 60 / North Black Canyon Highway): Navigation decision point; at 6.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Elevation Profile

Gently rolling terrain

2,841 ft 1,081 ft

Total Climb

1,760 ft

Total Descent

47 ft

Highest Point

2,841 ft

~75.1 mi in

Elevation Range

1,760 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Glendale, AZ to Superior, AZ, road signs begin pointing toward Globe along the way.

Globe

19.4 mi in | ~27m | via US 60

About the Cities

Starting in Glendale, AZ

Full guide →

Founded 1887

Glendale is one of the largest suburbs in the metropolitan Phoenix area, and is rapidly growing as a media/entertainment center in the Valley of the Sun. It was home to over 250,000 people in 2019.

Top landmarks

  • • Catlin Court Historic District — historic district in Glendale, Arizona, USA
  • • Floralcroft Historic District — historic district in Glendale. Arizona
  • • Glendale beet sugar factory

Arriving in Superior, AZ

Full guide →

Top landmarks

  • • Hotel Magma — historic hotel in Superior, Arizona, US

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 34m. Total distance: 75.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (54%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 28.4 miles on US 60. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Superior, AZ before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 6.4 miles (US 60 / West Thomas Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 6.6 miles (US 60 / North Black Canyon Highway): Navigation decision point; at 6.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Superior, AZ before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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